No Title Springs To Mind

I think I actually took that photo on Monday. It's the same Golden Orb Weaver I shot before who has made her web by the mailbox. This picture shows her web though, and you can easily see how this spider got her name. The webs are indeed golden, especially noticeable when the sun shines through them. 

I am SO tired this evening and I didn't even do much. Didn't take a walk, didn't work in the garden. I did something that took some emotional energy though and this shows how weird I've become. A few months ago I went through an online dress-buying spree. I mean, it wasn't too crazy or manic behavior or anything like that. But two of the dresses that I got that I did truly love did not fit me. One of them was actually new, rather than from eBay. I loved the sort of Indian print of the dress. It's all cotton, a heavy gauze, really, and it was just too big. I couldn't return it because it had been on sale. I can sew but some things I don't tackle because unlike Liz over at Field and Fen, I am not what you'd call a natural seamstress. I've always sewed by patterns and whenever I've tried to alter anything myself it's just gone wrong. So I'd vowed to take it to a real seamstress to get it altered because it's just too pretty to stash in the closet and forget about, and knowing I'm about to go to Roseland, I really wanted to get it done so I could take it with me. It's the kind of dress you can wear anywhere from the beach to dinner. But doing things like taking a garment to be altered is one of those things I have a mental block about. It's a little like going to the doctor although not nearly as bad. 
HOWEVER, I did it today. I took it to a lady who's had a shop right near Lily's Publix forever. She does alterations and makes fancy dresses too, especially for children. Like Quinceanera dresses. When I walked into the shop, she was sitting in the back, bent over her sewing machine and said, "Hello!" and then asked me directly if I needed to change and I said, yes, I did, and she pointed to a dressing room where I took the dress I was wearing off and put on the one that needed altering. She had me stand with my arms out and she pinned the dress in about twenty-eight seconds and said, "Okay!" and I changed back, gave her the dress and it will be ready on Monday, no problem. We are leaving on Tuesday and I am very excited to have that dress. I don't think it looks especially good on me because nothing looks especially good on me these days but it will be a cheerful thing to wear and cool, as well. 
Done! I felt incredibly relieved to have done that. 

I got another dress during that period of time when I went a little crazy and it, too, was too big, but it was from eBay and there was a no-return policy from this seller. I had so looked forward to getting this dress because it was a Johnny Was dress and for those of you who do not know, Johnny Was clothing is almost painfully beautiful in terms of fabric and often embroidery. Funky elegance. And this dress was pure silk. 
When it came I was so disappointed in the fit. I think I described it in a previous post by saying that when I put it on I felt like a child, wearing my mother's night gown. But here, too, the print was so fabulous and the silk felt so luxurious. And I'm not sure why but I gave up on even thinking that it could be altered although I'm sure it could be. 
However, this afternoon I took it out and tried it on and yes, it is too big but mostly it's too long and so I am going to take care of that which is within my capabilities. 

I may end up wearing it as a nightgown. I don't know. But dammit- I am going to wear this dress. Look at the border of the fabric on the hem.

You can bet I'm going to incorporate that when I shorten the dress and I think I have a method figured out which won't even involve any cutting. We shall see. 

And another thing I did today was to make about a vat of smoked fish dip. Have you ever had smoked fish dip? It is a fine thing to eat on crackers or even as a sandwich or if you must, with a spoon. Mr. Moon had a bunch of fish ribs that are usually thrown away but he just did not want to do this. And please don't ask me what sort of fish they were. I do not know. They were smoked. And after he smoked the fish, he carefully removed it from the bones and filled up a large bowl with the meat which I then turned into the dip. This involves a food processor, onions, Old Bay seasoning, hot sauce, Worcester sauce, soy sauce, cream cheese, mustard, a little mayonnaise, a little sour cream, and lemon juice. 
I made essentially four food-processor portions of the stuff, mixed it all together in a large bowl, and now it's in the refrigerator. It's pretty good stuff and the fish did not go to waste. 
Owen was here while I was making it as he and his Boppy are working together today on a new door for Owen's room which is quite the project. I got to talk to Owen for a long time while Glen watched youtube videos on how to do what he wanted to do and then the two of them went over to Tom's where they are borrowing his workshop. I sent a container of the dip with them to Tom and also a larger one for Owen's family. 
I still have a LOT of fish dip. 

And that is what I did today. 

I know this is all pretty boring but it is what it is. 

Here's a picture that came up in my memories the other day. 

I keep looking at it and every time I do, my heart swells a little bit more. That was when August was just a bitty boy and he loved his grandfather so much that he called himself, "Little Boppy." 

I miss that boy and his brother too. We'll be seeing them soon. I bet they've grown at least three inches apiece since we left North Carolina. But August will always be Little Boppy to me. 

I am the luckiest woman in the world. 

Love...Ms. Moon